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Radiotherapy patient donates skincare to hospital

Sam ReadNorthamptonshire
News imageNORTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL A dark glass table is at the centre of the picture. On top of the table are white and blue pots, tubs and bottles of skin care products. Seven adults and one child are standing around the table looking at the camera. Some are wearing hospital uniform, three are wearing white t-shirts. They appear to be in a radiotherapy room with a large piece of medical equipment behind them. NORTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL
Niven Whatley (third left), received care from the radiotherapy team at Northampton General Hospital

A co-founder of a charity has donated about 100 skincare products to cancer patients at the hospital where he received radiotherapy treatment.

Niven Whatley, who established the charity Ailsa's Aim, based in Olney, Buckinghamshire, was admitted to Northampton General Hospital with bowel cancer in May.

Radiotherapy patients can have skin reactions to targeted radiation treatment including itching, irritation and soreness.

Whatley said while undergoing treatment he experienced "uncomfortable" skin irritation which meant he could not forget about the therapy even at other times of the day.

Whatley said the radiotherapy treatment, which he has now finished, was "scary", but providing the products to the hospital was "a ray of sunshine and a bit of normality".

He added he was still receiving cancer treatment and hoped the products would help break down any "taboo" for other patients.

News imageAILSA'S AIM The picture shows the top half of a man on the right of the image smiling looking at the camera. He has his hands on the shoulder of a girl who is looking at the camera and you can see head and shoulders of. They are standing in a corridor with white walls. Behind them you can see a light brown door with a window in it, a window covered by a blind and part of a notice board.AILSA'S AIM
Niven Whatley co-founded the charity shortly after the birth of his daughter Ailsa

His wife and co-founder Sara Whatley said: "During radiotherapy treatment, skincare becomes incredibly important, yet many specialist products are expensive and out of reach for people already facing the financial impact of a cancer diagnosis."

The couple set up Ailsa's Aim in 2020, to support cancer patients and families who have babies in neonatal care after Sara received a cancer diagnosis while pregnant with her daughter Ailsa, now seven.

The products, which include moisturisers, cleansers and toners, have been donated as part of a trial to better understand patient needs and how the products can be used alongside others that the hospital can prescribe.

Jane Wilkinson, the hospital radiotherapy manager, said: "[The products] will provide some additional skincare support at a difficult time for patients and because they are free it will ease some of the financial strains people experience around their cancer diagnoses and treatment."

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